The world of hotel property management systems (PMS has become somewhat confounding lately. There are a myriad of new entrants, and the legacy systems are trying to hang on by wrapping their old solutions in new costumes (a.k.a. putting lipstick on a monkey). One thing is sure – the guest is evolving and becoming more educated, on-demand and needs instant gratification, that’s why offering your guests with the latest hotel technology is paramount.
Competition for the guest is fierce. Hotels struggle with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), Airbnb, the review ecosystem that is TripAdvisor and many more elements that affect the hotel PMS decision. These external pressures can sometimes feel daunting, but hoteliers can control one incredibly important aspect of their operations that every hotel has in place. The control can come from the PMS and its capability to amplify the guest experience. So, here are five things that your PMS needs to ensure that you are outperforming your competition.
Mobility
In our instant-access world, guests expect quick responses. Gone are the days where hotel staff need to be chained to their desks and your guests are aware of this! The front desk idea is old and antiquated, and it creates a barrier between hotel ambassadors and the guest. The new PMS world should be focused on mobility enabling your staff to roam the lobby – or anywhere for that matter – and help guests upon arrival and even encourage some upselling. Mobility should also place power into the guests’ hands by empowering them to book, check-in and out as well as order anything via their mobile device. Mobile hospitality is the future of our industry, and it should be at the top of the list
Design Flexibility & Usability
Our industry experiences a great deal of turnover when it comes to staffing hotels. Even the best PMS system is useless if your employees don’t know how to use it. The hotel PMS technology needs to be easy to use, easy to train and more importantly – be flexible enough to address all the changes that are occurring in the new hotel technology ecosystem. These changes can include new interface requirements, new additions to the application itself, as well as the capability to be open. Older PMS’s are closed, and third-party vendors and their hotel clients can wait months, if not years, to get their system integrated. This can be debilitating to your operation, so make sure that your new PMS has this capability and overall philosophy. A good PMS doesn’t just fit your hotel’s current needs, but also has the potential to grow with you: it should include multiple modules, features and endless possibilities for integration
